A unique program dedicated to helping people with low vision and blindness resume active, satisfying, and more independent lives
The Richard E. Hoover Low Vision Rehabilitation Services staff members work directly with visually impaired individuals to determine which devices and techniques will help them meet their personal goals.
What is Low Vision?
Low Vision is a visual condition that cannot be corrected by conventional eyeglasses, contact lenses or surgery. Low vision includes people with reduced visual acuity, narrowed visual fields, and blind spots in their central field of vision. They may need things bolder, brighter, or bigger than normal, or they may require special techniques to reduce their glare sensitivity.
Our Team
Specialties
Low VisionDr. Sunness is one of the pioneers in understanding how patients adapt after they develop blind spots in their vision. At Hoover, she provides comprehensive evaluations and visual function testing, as well as low vision evaluation. Treatment by Susan Garber, our low vision occupational therapist is also available. Dr. Sunness sees patients with a wide variety of conditions, including macular disease, retinal disease, glaucoma, optic nerve disease, and corneal disease. She also is actively engaged in clinical research in low vision.
Dry age-related macular degeneration
Dr. Sunness is recognized as one of the world's foremost authorities on the advanced dry form of age-related macular degeneration (also called geographic atrophy). She conducted the largest natural history study of this condition to date, and her work has served as the basis for designing clinical trials for possible treatments for this condition. Hoover Services offers a comprehensive evaluation, retinal examination, and low vision treatment.
Stargardt Disease (macular degeneration in young people)
Dr. Sunness is one of few ophthalmologists in the United States specializing in Stargardt disease. She follows about 150 patients with this condition. She has a collaborative relationship with Dr. Rando Allikmets, who discovered the abnormal gene in Stargardt disease, to provide genetic testing to patients.
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Dr. Sunness works with many patients with Retinitis Pigmentosa. Hoover provides clinical visual function and electrophysiological testing, along with a full retinal evaluation and low vision evaluation and treatment.
Other macular and retinal disease
Dr. Sunness treats many patients with wet macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and other hereditary and acquired macular and retinal diseases.
Genetics
Dr. Sunness completed the summer genetics course at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, in 2000. She collaborates with a number of geneticists who are studying ocular diseases, and arranges for genetic testing for her patients. DNA analysis of her patients has provided insight into possible genetic factors predisposing to macular degeneration.
Publications
Dr. Sunness is an author of 55 peer-reviewed papers. She has written more than 20 chapters in books relating to retinal and macular disease and visual function.

Janet S. Sunness, MD
Medical Director, Hoover Low Vision
Ophthalmology

Janet S. Sunness, MD
Medical Director, Hoover Low Vision
Ophthalmology

Michelle Bianchi, OTR/L, CLVT
Low Vision Occupational Therapist
Michelle Bianchi, OTR/L, CLVT
Michelle Bianchi is an occupational therapist and certified low vision therapist specializing in vision rehabilitation at GBMC’s Richard E. Hoover’s Low Vision Rehabilitation Services since November, 2012. Ms. Bianchi has helped many patients with low vision maximize their safety and independence with their desired activities of daily living since 2005.
Michelle earned a Bachelor of Science degree in both Psychology and Occupational Therapy & Occupational Science from Towson University. In June 2010, she completed her Graduate Certificate in Low Vision Occupational Therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Mrs. Bianchi has completed occupational therapy internships at Maryland General Hospital’s Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Traumatic Brain Injury Unit, Kennedy Krieger’s Inpatient Hospital, Greater Baltimore Medical Center’s Transitional Care Unit, and The Sheppard and Enoch Pratt Hospital’s Dual Diagnoses of Addiction and Affective Disorders Unit. She was the Maryland Occupational Therapy Association’s recipient of the 2001 Henrietta Price Scholar Award. In 2009, she won the first prize in the 35th Annual Maddack Awards at the 2009 AOTA Conference in their professional division for a low vision device.
Michelle has over 15 years of occupational therapy experience including working with patients recovering from traumatic brain injury and physical disabilities. Ms. Bianchi is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association AOTA), Maryland Occupational Therapy Association (MOTA), and Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation and Education Professionals (ACVREP). Ms. Bianchi has spoken at national conferences on low vision, occupational therapy conferences, as well as to senior communities to promote hope for coping with a change in vision.

Carol Applegate, MLA, COT
Research Coordinator & Ophthalmic Technician

Renrick Slater
Sr. Medical Secretary
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